We're off to see best of the West End in Trafalgar Square

12 April 2012

Stars from London's blockbuster shows are to perform free in the seventh West End Live celebration of theatre.

The event is to move from Leicester Square to Trafalgar Square to help accommodate an anticipated 500,000 visitors to the two-day programme.

Performers from established favourites including Billy Elliot, Wicked, Jersey Boys and Priscilla Queen of the Desert will be joined by stars from recent arrivals such as The Wizard of Oz and shows yet to open such as the musical versions of Shrek and Ghost.

Sarah Lancashire, star of the musical Betty Blue Eyes, will be taking part with co-stars including the League of Gentleman's Reece Shearsmith.

"I've never been involved before but it sounds like a wonderful event where everyone has a great time," she said. "It's a two-day theatre festival and a great way to showcase what is going on in theatre in the West End. You can get a little taster and make up your mind about what you want to go to."

The only dilemma for the Betty Blue Eyes cast is whether they will be able to bring animatronic pig, Betty. "It would be really nice but it will be determined by how well the electronics travel," she said. Others joining in include Lee Mead with Legally Blonde, Danielle Hope from The Wizard of Oz and Matthew Kelly who is shortly to open in Lend Me A Tenor - The Musical.

The initiative, which was first proposed by Westminster's deputy leader Robert Davis, has presented more than 200 performances to an audience of two million. It was announced as attendances for the first quarter of the year dipped by 10 per cent with box office takings down six per cent. Julian Bird, the Society of London Theatre chief executive, said it was a "testing time".

West End Live, in association with MasterCard, is on June 18 and 19 with admission on a first come first served basis. westendlive.co.uk

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